Thesis Title

Author

Date of Graduation

Fall 1996

Degree

Master of Arts in English

Department

English

Committee Chair

George Jensen

Subject Categories

English Language and Literature

Abstract

The worship of the female archetype, or Great Mother Goddess by Stone Age peoples appears to have been prevalent world wide. By the High Neolithic Age, the goddess is depicted in statuary with an infant son who will be worshipped with her as the Sun King. During the Dark Age, Guinevere, as a Picti priestess-queen, carried on the traditions of the goddess, which revolved around matriarchal order in a heroic society. Although the goddess was eclipsed by Christianity in the following age, beneath the gloss of a Christian veneer, she is, with Guinevere as her representative, evident throughout Arthurian literature.